Biogenic fuel gas generation in geologic hydrocarbon deposits

Abstract

A method of increasing biogenic production of a combustible gas from a subterranean geologic formation may include extracting formation water from the geologic formation, where the extracted formation water includes at least a first species and a second species of microorganism. The method may also include analyzing the extracted formation water to identify the first species of microorganism that promotes the biogenic production of the combustible gas. An amendment may be introduced to the formation water to promote the growth of the first species of microorganism, and the biological characteristics of the formation water may be altered to decrease a population of the second species in the geologic formation.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of preparing a microbial community for use in a geologic formation, the method comprising:
 forming an opening in a geologic formation to provide access to a consortium of microorganisms; 
 extracting at least a portion of a hydrocarbon substrate from the geologic formation, wherein the extraction maintains the hydrocarbon substrate under anaerobic conditions; 
 identifying one or more microorganisms within the hydrocarbon substrate; and 
 developing an ex situ consortium comprising the one or more microorganisms identified, wherein the ex situ consortium comprises one or more microorganisms that convert the hydrocarbon substrate into components including a carboxylate functional group. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising extracting formation water from the geologic formation with the hydrocarbon substrate. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon substrate includes one or more materials selected from the group consisting of coal, oil, kerogen, peat, lignite, oil shale, tar sands, bitumen, and tar. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a nutrient amendment to stimulate growth of the consortium. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising isolating one or more microorganisms from the consortium. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , measuring a rate of a biogenic hydrocarbon production of the hydrocarbon substrate from the developed consortium. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising anaerobically filtering the extracted portion of the hydrocarbon substrate to concentrate included microorganisms. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identification comprises the detection of genetic material. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identification comprises the detection of proteins or portions of proteins expressed by the microorganisms. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ex situ consortium comprises a methanogen. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ex situ consortium comprises one or more syntrophs. 
     
     
       12. A method of preparing an ex situ microbial community, the method comprising:
 extracting at least a portion of a hydrocarbon substrate from a geologic formation, wherein the extraction maintains the hydrocarbon substrate under anaerobic conditions; 
 detecting DNA for one or more microorganisms within the hydrocarbon substrate; 
 purifying DNA for the one or more microorganisms within the hydrocarbon substrate; and 
 developing an ex situ consortium comprising the one or more microorganisms. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising amplifying the amount of DNA. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the hydrocarbon substrate includes one or more materials selected from the group consisting of coal, oil, kerogen, peat, lignite, oil shale, tar sands, bitumen, and tar. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising desorbing the microorganisms from the hydrocarbon substrate prior to the DNA detection. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the desorption comprises using an anaerobic buffer. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 12 , measuring a rate of a biogenic hydrocarbon production of the hydrocarbon substrate from the developed consortium. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising anaerobically filtering the extracted portion of the hydrocarbon substrate to concentrate included microorganisms. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the ex situ consortium comprises a methanogen.